By Tanya Steele
Thunder, lightning and hail created storm chaos across the Dandenong Ranges, Yarra Valley and the state as a forecast thunderstorm hit on Sunday evening.
A lighting show accompanied by heavy downpours and hail swept across Melbourne on the evening of Sunday 25 August.
Emerald SES unit controller Ben Owen said the Emerald unit had 47 calls for assistance in the last 24 hours by Monday morning.
“We still have calls coming through today and crews are still out,” he said.
Mr Owen said he had concerns for more weather expected in upcoming days.
“The community should prepare now, charge your batteries and get fuel for your generator,” he said.
Victoria SES reported via its social media volunteers across the state had 422 requests for assistance (RFA) received from 9am Sunday morning to 9pm Sunday evening.
“The majority of requests were in relation to trees down with 230 RFAs received,“ said the post.
“123 RFAs were in relation to building damage and 38 RFAs were received regarding flooding.“
Senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, Jonathan Howe said in his national broadcast update on Monday morning that it was quite a stormy afternoon and evening right across south-eastern Australia, especially for South Australia, Victoria, and parts of southern New South Wales as well.
“But many people before the storms, said it was quite unseasonably warm Sunday right across south-eastern Australia, up to 28 degrees, across Victoria, as high as 27 degrees Avalon airport. So a warm day followed by a very stormy afternoon and evening,” he said.
“Some of the highest observations of rainfall around Melbourne include 20 millimetres across Ferny Creek and Mount Dandenong, 14 millimetres at Ringwood and 13 millimetres at Keilor and the CBD.”
Power outages were reported to Ausnet’s outage tracker across multiple locations in Gembrook, Cockatoo, Emerald, Kallista, Monbulk and more, with some residents without power since the evening of Sunday 25 August.
Heading into the next days Mr Howe said winds would increase again across the region level.
“On Tuesday, we are likely to see another round of damaging winds across South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and tell the New South Wales later Tuesday and into Wednesday,” he said.
Mr Howe said to keep an eye on the forecast as it would remain quite windy.
People can find more information and their local forecast and any updates to warnings on the bureau’s website, as well as the app and also social media channels.
“Please follow the Vic Emergency app for warnings and avoid fallen power lines,” Mr Owen said.
